Palestinians say Clinton signed amnesty for Abbas

World Tribune ^ | 3/18/03

[truthandlife]

The Palestinian Authority has launched a campaign for the release of a Palestinian terrorist captured in Iraq.

PA Local Authorities Minister Saeb Erekat said the arrest of Abul Abbas, head of the Palestine Liberation Front, violates the 1995 accord with Israel that granted amnesty for all Palestinian insurgents. Erekat said the agreement was also signed by then-President Bill Clinton.

"The Palestinian-Israeli interim agreement signed on September 28, 1995 stated that members of the Palestine Liberation Organization must not be detained or tried for matters they committed before the Oslo peace accord of September 13, 1993," Erekat said. "This interim agreement was signed on the U.S. side by President Clinton and his secretary of state, Warren Christopher."

The PA said the U.S. capture of Mohammed Abul Abbas was illegal and that he had never been sought by American authorities, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials asserted that the State Department had determined in the late 1990s that it did not have grounds to seek Abul Abbas's extradition from the Gaza Strip. PA officials said Israel had not sought the extradition of Abul Abbas during his stay in the Gaza Strip in 1998. They cited a determination by Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein that Abbas does not pose a threat to Israeli security.

The United States has denied that Abul Abbas was granted immunity from prosecution. U.S. officials did say that the State Department was examining options regarding the PLF leader. So far, they said, the State Department has contacted Italy, which issued a warrant for his arrest.

"We are currently looking at a variety of options to ensure he's brought to justice," State Department deputy spokesman Philip Reeker said. "The United States believes that all terrorists should be brought to justice for their crimes, so obviously, this will be a matter of discussion with the government of Italy."

[CyberAnt]

You nailed it - THAT's EXACTLY WHAT I WAS THINKING.

[Illbay]

Clinton didn't sign the agreement.

He signed that he WITNESSED the agreement.

The agreement is between the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.

This is just bullsh*t.

[WOSG]

And italy didnt sign it either.

He should serve time in Italy, and then we can bring him here for conspiracy in the Achille Lauro case - kidnapping, terrorism, murder. JMHO.

[Illbay]

Clinton didn't sign the agreement.

He signed that he WITNESSED the agreement.

The agreement is between the Palestinian Authority and the State of Israel.

This is just bullsh*t.

[AlGone2001]

What a legacy! He'll also be remembered for letting bin Laden stay a free man.

[TREGEN]

that just goes to show you that Bill's autograph isn't worth anything...

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

I don't know, I think it may just be laziness. It's just easier to quote the contending parites' public statements with equal weight than to actually find out what the truth is.

Journalists are not our best and brightest. They tend, from what I can see, to be of average intelligence at best, disinclined to seek out facts, unable to recognize the difference between their own beliefs and God's truth, and just not particularly competent.

There are exceptions, but of course, those are exceptions.

[prouddvldog]

Well I think this just proves that Clinton just signed pardons whithout knowing who they were for or what crimes they commeted.

[cookcounty]

"Hmmmm? It says "a member of the PLO". I thought Abbas was a member of the PLF."

Both true. PLO is an umbrella organization for terrorists, and has numerous "sub-groups." Abbas was delegate to PLO from PLF, like Daschle is a member of rhe Senate from South Dakota.

At least we know Tommy's firmly against throwing old people in wheel chairs overboard.

[WHBates]

"At least we know Tommy's firmly against throwing old people in wheel chairs overboard."

Are we sure about that? I'm just asking, what is your source for that statement. LOL

[CyberAnt]

Well ... I said PLF, because they said the "agreement" specified the PLO, which might have been a loophole.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

Since the Enemy is now Within...

and always has been:


.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Armed Services Committee..

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

[SpaceBar]

If Abbas got a pardon, I wonder how much Clinton charged him for it?

Picture if you will Yassar Arafat in a little blue summer dress, a wig, and dark red lipstick. I hope you're not eating.

[TheWriterInTexas]

Does this apply? Try "Lie #5" at the bottom of the article. More on Abbas.

[green team 1999]

clinton again aarrrrggghhhh!

[punster]

I don't care what William Judas Clinton agreed to, try the bastard.

[mass55th]

I want to see how Clinton is going to spin this.

[mass55th]

Yes, but Hillary will be in 2008!

Don't count on it!

[Dolphy]

"The Palestinian-Israeli interim agreement signed on September 28, 1995 stated that members of the Palestine Liberation Organization must not be detained or tried for matters they committed before the Oslo peace accord of September 13, 1993,"

Hey Palestinean Authority, these are way too many words for a man who got tripped up on the meaning of "is." Get back to us if you find a blue burka.

[Congressman Billybob]

You don't need to spend much effort chasing down this red herring. As I understand, the agreement not to prosecute dealt only with those found anywhere in the combined territory of Palestine/Israel. Geographically, it did not apply anywhere else, including the US and Iraq.

Plus, there is such a thing as a "continuing activity." It is a near certainty that Abbas committed terrorist acts to kill Americans and destroy American interests in recent years -- therefore not touched by Olso, therefore after Congress passed its Anti-Terrorism Act. If it is a "continuing activity," things done before the deadline come into court along with the ones committed after the deadline.

Bottom line: as I said in a radio interview this afternoon, we are NOT going to turn Abbas over to the Italians, who have let him escape once already. We are NOT going to turn Abbas over to the International Court (which we chose not to participate in).

We are going to bring him to Guantanamo and try him before a military tribunal under the terms of the Order that President Bush signed more than a year ago. That provides for a panel of nine officers who are both judge and jury. Guilty findings require only six votes, minimum. The death penalty, however, requires all nine to agree. (I also think that we may invite some British and Australian officers to serve on that panel for this case only.)

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, not yet up on UPI, and FR, "Who's Next?"

Latest book(let), "to Restore Trust in America."